Let's Play Football Oct 14, 2021

Let’s Play Football

October 14, 2021

CHARGING ahead

Second place won’t be good enough for Dassel-Cokato’s Eli Gillman page 10

INSIDE • Who are these Vikings anyway?...page 4

Coming Home...page 4

Friday Night Spotlight...page 5

Dave Krenik: A Lasting legacy...page 6

• Ring of Honor: Kevin Williams...page 13

• The lasting importance of football...page 14

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Who are these Vikings anyway?

by BRYAN ZOLLMAN Co-Publisher, Let’s Play Football

We are five weeks into the NFL season, and it is still hard to pin down exactly what sort of team the Minnesota Vikings are.

Are they a playoff team, an also-ran, or a bottom dweller?

I vote for the former and here is why.

The Vikings are entering Week 6 at 2-3, still very much within reach of the 4-1 Packers, who haven’t exactly been a lights out front-runner in the NFC North. Aaron Rodgers is a little like the uncle at Thanksgiving where you don’t know if he is going to show up drunk with a different girlfriend or just be “Uncle Aaron.”.

That said, we can’t worry about what the Pack is going to do because the Pack is going to do what they do (we just hope they do 7-9).

But what are the Vikings gonna do? Are they a legit 2-3 team? Should they be 1-4? Or could they be 4-1?

The Vikings are like climate change. Are they for real, or aren’t they?

After escaping with the win over Detroit on Sunday, they probably should be 4-1. If the referees make the

correct call on the Dalvin Cook fumble in the opener, the Vikes probably win that game. If Greg Joseph, who proved he can drill home game-winning field goals, kicked the game-winner against Arizona, they would be 4-1.

But it’s those little things, ya know? Even against the Lions, those little things almost cost us a loss to a winless team in our home stadium.

Alexander Mattison had a great game subbing in for the injured Dalvin Cook, but his fumble in the final two minutes almost cost the team the game. It should have cost them the game.

Enter Kirk Cousins. For those Cousins-haters out there, consider he had 37 seconds to get the Vikings in field goal range. At that point, I think the Vikings faithful threw their hands in the air...another agonizing defeat, right?

But Cousins went all Tom Brady on the Lions and completed two huge passes to Adam Thielen, who ironically had not caught a pass all day until those waning seconds.

How good has Cousins been this year? He’s been great, really. He is rated in the top 10 in most QB categories and on Sunday proved he can move the ball under pressure. Of course, we will wait until playoff time before we decide

Cousins’ true stature in Vikings lore.

And then enter Greg Joseph. After missing a kick to win the game against Arizona, the 27-year-old from South Africa netted a perfect kick from 54 yards out for the win. Kicking just may be the toughest job in all of sports, so for Joseph to nail that kick knowing 80 percent of the crowd at US Bank Stadium was expecting him to miss it, shows Vikings fans he has the ice in his veins to stick around awhile.

It would also appear he likes long-distance kicking. He is 10-for12 on the season, which is about the league average, and 5-for-5 from 50plus yards out. He is also 11-for-12 on extra points. The Arizona game wasn’t a good one for Joseph, but otherwise he has proven efficient.

So yeah, the Vikings beat an 0-4 team…woo-hoo.

But they should’ve beat undefeated Arizona, and of course, got robbed against Cincy. And they beat Seattle, handily.

So…who are these Vikings anyway?

Their next five opponents are a combined 19-6.

I guess we will find out soon enough.

Coming Home

by RYAN JOHNSON Columnist, Let’s Play Football

I was raised in a small town in the heart of Redwood County, Wabasso, Minnesota. Our motto was, and I hope still is, “Some Bigger, None Better.”

It is so small that we didn’t have a single four way stop in town let alone a stoplight. Small towns in rural Minnesota are farm towns, or at least started out as farm towns. Mine is still a farm town, as it was when I graduated. It was very common for one or two my football teammates to haul a load of corn into town prior to a football game each Fall. It wasn’t out of the ordinary at all, in fact some hauled corn into town on school days as well. Fall is harvest time and with that comes Homecoming across America. I can’t think of any combination that can beat Homecoming Week and a Friday night football game.

Late summer some of my classmates (55 total) informed the rest of us that it was our 30th reunion this year. Informing you that this message was delivered via our Facebook group should come as no surprise as after all it is our 30th and that pins us in that stage of social media.

After a little bit of banter and discussion it was noted that the locals now play their Homecoming game on a Saturday and that might be a great way to spend the weekend back home.

It was settled, the reunion was slated for Homecoming weekend. It would be the largest crowd of Rabbits (the mascot that has fed opposing team homecoming Elmer Fudd themes for years) that many of us would take in since Graduation.

I had heard that the hometown squad had moved its game to Saturday several years ago and I have kept up with them via Facebook and marveled at what a spectacle they create each Fall in southwestern Minnesota. Heck, they have a parade, and from the pictures I have seen it seems that nearly the entire town shows up.

Friends have told me what a great time it is, celebrating the kids as well as a big football win. Two main things dominate these small towns in the Fall: Homecoming and Harvest. In preparation for heading home I contacted a couple of my former classmates about seeing them.

“It depends on the harvest,” was the same response from those farming. After all, this is what it is all about for the farmers — everyday is gameday in the Fall for those bringing in the beans and then the corn. “The beans were soso and the corn isn’t really ready but

the ears are falling off the stalks…” The drought this summer really hit these folks hard and the Harvest will not be the best this year, but yet, the same work must take place to bring what they have in to town.

We are at the midpoint of the season and these Homecomings are taking place everywhere. Not as many harvests are out there but soon it will be Thanksgiving – the holiday celebrating the harvests – and we will be celebrating state football championships. I’m going to celebrate the fact that we will be having championships after being denied them last year. But that is in a couple of months. This week I am going to celebrate going home, and being reminded of a time far before Covid, protocols, and zoom learning. I’m going to remember the excitement of youth, pep bands, football games, and hometowns.

Happy Homecoming everyone.

by BRYAN ZOLLMAN Co-Publisher, Let’s Play Football

RANKINGS

FRIDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT

A rundown of High School Football

9-MAN

Offenses eupt in 9-Man

The top five teams in 9-Man football scored a combined 302 points last week as the offenses were rolling in Week 6.

Hancock stayed undefeated at the top with a 70-36 win over Ortonville. Verndale roughed up Bertha-Hewitt 5826 and Lanesboro notched 64 points in a 64-20 win over Nicollet.

Not to be outdone, No. 5 Mountain Iron-Buhl beat North Central 76-12.

No. 4 Fertile-Beltrami wasn’t so lucky as they had to face No. 7 NCEUH, but they held them off with a 34-12 win to stay unbeaten at 6-0.

Hills-Beaver Creek dropped out of the top 10 this week after a 24-6 loss to Mountain Lake Area. Meanwhile, Mountain Lake Area jumps in at No. 10 at 5-1.

Sleepy Eye-St. Mary’s stayed un-

beaten with a close 18-16 win over Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart.

This week’s big match up will be No. 2 Verndale against No. 9 Wheaton-Herman-Norcross.

Scores from last week’s top 10 teams:

No. 1 Hancock 70, Ortonville 36

No. 2 Verndale 58, Bertha-Hewitt 26

No. 3 Lanesboro 64, Nicollet 20

No. 4 Fertile-Beltrami 34, No. 7 NCE-UH 12

No. 5 Mountain Iron-Buhl76, North Central 12

Mountain Lake Area 24, No. 6 Hills-Beaver Creek 6 No. 8 Grand Meadow 35, Southland 0 No. 9 Sleepy Eye-St. Mary’s 18, Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 16 No. 10 Wheaton-Herman-Norcross 2, Clinton-Graceley-Beardsville 0

RANKINGS

7. Ada Borup-West (5-1)

8. Martin County West (5-1)

9. Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop (5-1)

10. Lakeview (5-1)

CLASS A

Murray holds off Martin in top 10 clash

Murray County Central, ranked No. 2 in Class A, had their hands full with No. 9 Martin County West as both undefeated squads clashed last Friday. But it was Murray who came out on top with a 24-18 win. It took a 9-yard touchdown catch from Chant Mitchell from QB Abe Paulzine with just 38 seconds left to secure the win and keep Murray County Central unbeaten.

Martin County West, of course, is right there with the top teams in the state in Class A after a stellar performance Friday.

Pine River-Backus tripped up No. 3 Ada Borup-West 35-26 to improve to 5-1. Rushford-Peterson continues their season dominance with another lopsided win, this time 47-8 over Randolph.

No. 6 G-F-W dropped three notches after a lopsided loss to 2A Blooming Prairie 54-8. The Awesome Blossoms from Blooming Prairie are ranked in the top 5 in Class 2A.

BOLD, OTC, Mayer Lutheran and Lakeview all won their games handily to maintain a spot in the top 10.

Scores from last week’s top 10:

No. 1 Minneota 50, MACCRAY 0

No. 2 Murray County Central 24, No. 9 Martin County West 18

Pine River-Backus 35, No. 3 Ada Borup-West 26

No. 4 Rushford-Peterson 47, Randolph 8

No.

RANKINGS

Class 2A

1. Minneapolis North (5-1)

2. Blooming Prairie (6-0)

3. Pipestone Area (6-0)

4. Moose Lake-Willow River (5-0)

5. Kimball Area (6-0)

6. West Central Area/Ashby (6-0)

7. Royalton (5-1)

8. Maple River (5-1)

9. Eden Valley-Watkins (5-1)

10. Blue Earth Area (5-1)

CLASS 2A

Maple River upsets topranked Blue Earth Area

Blue Earth Area was one of two No. 1-ranked teams to be upset this week (Litchfield also got beat in Class 3A). The Buccaneers lost 21-7 to Maple Lake. Both teams are now 5-1.

The loss by Blue Earth dropped them all the way down to No. 10 in our weekly rankings. Quite the dip for a team that got off to a great start, but chances are the loss to Maple River was a blip on their radar and they will be back to winning this week when they take on Norwood-Young America. The Buccaneers will get another test in Week 8 when they battle Fairmont, currently ranked second in 3A.

Minneapolis North takes the top spot this week as they doubled up on Minneapolis South 28-14. They edged out Blooming Prairie by two points in voting for the No. 1 ranking. The Awesome Blossoms at No. 2 have been, well, awesome as usual, improving to 6-0 with a convincing win over top-10 ranked Class 2A squad G-F-W, 54-8. Moose Lake-Willow River, Kimball Area and West Central Area/Ashby all remained unbeaten as well.

Royalton jumps all the way to No. 7 after a trouncing of No. 2 Eden Valley-Watkins 30-8.

There is still lots up in the air in Class 2A as the top teams are emerging, but it appears anyone can beat anyone on any given night.

Some teams to watch for, however, are St. Agnes (5-1), Rush City (6-0), Osakis (5-1) and Chatfield (5-1).

Scores from last week’s top 10: Maple River 21, No. 1 Blue Earth Area 7 Royalton 30, No. 2 Eden Valley-Watkins 8

No. 3 Blooming Prairie 54, G-F-W 8

No. 4 Minneapolis North 28, Minneapolis South 14

No. 5 Pipestone 20, Luverne 16

No. 6 WCA/Ashby 42, Breckenridge 27

No. 7 Kimball Area 50, K-M-S 6

No. 8 Moose Lake-Willow River 49, Braham 0 Perham 29, No. 9 Osakis 28

No. 10 Rush City 62, Mesabi East 32

No. 10 Chatfield 40, Goodhue 15

*Rankings conducted through high school coaches poll FRIDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT

continued on page 8

PHOTO BTY JOSH MUNTIFERING Grand Rapids running back Aiden Chandler scoots past a Duluth East defender in the ThunderHawks 56-28 win last Friday night.

LEAVING A LEGACY

Cleveland HS honors longtime coach

Dave Krenik

by RICHARD ROHLFING

Football fields, by any other name, would still have a pair of goal posts and measure 100 yards from end zone to end zone.

But there are individuals and stories behind them.

For Cleveland’s field, located at the bottom of the hill behind the school since the mid 60s, no one has left a larger mark than Dave Krenik, the program’s longest tenured coach.

So, in ceremonies before Cleveland’s game against Lester Prairie on Friday, and with many of Krenik’s friends, former players and family looking on, the field was officially designated Dave Krenik Field. He received a commemorative plaque and watched as his name—on a 20-foot-long sign across the crow’s nest—was unveiled.

“A week ago, 25 former players and school personnel stopped at my house and told me about this,” Krenik said in a short speech during the ceremony. “I was overwhelmed and honored. A week later, I still am.”

Krenik recognized those who made the high honor happen.

“I know (School Board Chairman) Ron McCabe was a big part of it and (School Board member) Jeff Robb, also a former player of mine, and Rich Kern, the athletic director.”

He also acknowledged those who supported him in his term as head coach.

“I would like to thank my wife, Mary. Anybody who has ever coached knows your spouse is in it with you... and also our two daughters, Sarah and Laura. I missed a lot of their tennis matches because of football, but I think they understood. They’re both coaches now. I would like to thank all my former players and their parents. It was a great community to teach and coach in. Many of them remain friends forever. I had eight different assistants in my 29 years here. A lot of them are here tonight. A couple of them are head coaches at bigtime schools.”

Krenik closed with what he used to tell elementary students in the PE and health classes he taught at Cleveland School.

“‘The grass is green. The sky is

blue. It’s a great day to be a Clipper.’”

Krenik was the head Clipper football coach from 1982 to 2011.

“He was the true definition of a players’ coach,” said current Cleveland head coach Erik Hermanson, who assisted Krenik for 17 years. “He loved football at every level and helped foster that passion into his teams.”

One of Krenik’s great strengths was his ability to adapt to the team that he was given, Hermanson said.

“He didn’t make the players conform to his idea of a particular offense. Each year, he would evaluate his talent, and that was the style of play that his team would execute. He had great passing teams with quarterbacks like Pat O’Connor, Matt Johnson and Scott Perron. But he also had smash-mouth teams that featured running backs like Derek Fults, Ryan Losinski and Marty Schmitz. He also helped Cleveland effortlessly flow back and forth between 9- and 11-man football, sometimes in the same season and week to week.”

Krenik, a Le Center native, continues to attend many Cleveland football games, even though he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2017.

Krenik and his daughters, Sarah (left) and Laura (right), his son in law and their children.

Former player and current CHS teacher Dave Cink presented coach Krenik with a commemorative plaque. Looking on is Krenik’s wife Mary.

Many of Krenik’s former players were in attendance.

Concussion Management

by ERIC KOHN

We all cringe when we witness a big hit or a collision between athletes.

The possibility of a concussion is in our thoughts as we watch the players slowly get up and return back to their respective huddles. The recognition and management of concussions have been in the forefront over the past few years in all contact and collision sports. At all levels, there has been a collective effort to make sports safer and to help prevent head injuries from occurring.

Concussion research and training is one of the top themes in sports medicine. We have made great strides in the sports medicine field with concussion recognition, management, treatment and safely returning athletes back to their sport.

The first major improvement in concussion management has been the creation of a multi-disciplinary approach. The initial contact with the athlete is started with on-the-field clinical examination and cognitive assessment by the Athletic Trainer.

The Athletic Trainer will communicate with the coach and with the player’s parents to educate and inform the status of the athlete. The parents play the important role of monitoring the symptoms of the athlete over the first 24 hours.

Most Athletic Trainers will dispense a symptoms recognition card with the player’s parents at the time of injury to help them recognize changing symptoms. The athlete should then be evaluated by a medical professional trained in concussion assessment and taken through a thorough medical assessment and detailed neurological examination. At this time, the medical professional can compare the athlete’s current baseline testing to preseason neurological tests.

The Standardized Concussion Assessment Tool 3 (SCAT 3) is an afford-

Concussions protocols are at the forefront every time teams take the field these days. Athletic trainers, coaches, parents, and even teachers play roles in ensuring student-athletes are correctly diagnosed, treated, and return safely to competition.

able tool to in helping the medical professional assess the initial symptoms as well as continuing symptoms. After no symptoms have been noted for 24 hours, and based on medical orders, the athlete may begin the process of returning back to play. The return is a gradual progression that can be monitored and lead by a Physical Therapist in the clinic setting.

The athlete is progressed from no activity to light aerobic and balance train-

ing, then higher level aerobic and more functional movements, into sports specific movements, lastly non-contact training drills to full contact practice and finally full competition. Throughout the entire process the athlete is monitored closely by this multidisciplinary approach and is progressed based on individual response to each step. If there is a return of symptoms, the athlete is held back until the symptoms resolve and the progression starts

again. It is not time specific but based only on the athlete’s response to each step.

Some of the advancements that have come from all of the concussion research is the improved equipment that is worn by athletes. Helmets and mouth guards have been made safer. Another is the use of baseline preseason testing which has created an objective measure to compare post injury cognitive testing. Some schools have initiated a return to learn program that is monitored by a school nurse and counselor that acclimates the athlete back into the classroom. Finally, the improvement in education and communication between sports medicine professionals, parents, and coaches has helped to keep our athletes safer.

With as much as we have learned through research there is much to understand about brain injuries no matter how big or small. We are still learning about the compound effect of multiple concussions. There is interesting research that demonstrates up to 6 months after a concussion an athlete is more susceptible to musculoskeletal injuries such as ACL tears or other knee injuries. We are learning that our brain and body connection is still effected even after all the outward symptoms and signs seem to have been cleared for months. We also have learned the importance of balance training and hand eye coordination in the full recovery of the athlete post-concussion.

Concussions still occur in sports but with a multidisciplinary approach our athletes are correctly diagnosed, treated, and returned back to the field in a safer manner.

Eric is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He practices at St Cloud Orthopedics in Central Minnesota and is an adjunct professor at The College of St. Benedict/St John’s University. He can be reached at ekohn@stcloudorthopedics.com

FRIDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT continued from page 5_____________________________________________________

RANKINGS

Class 3A

1. Dassel-Cokato (6-0)

2. Fairmont (6-0)

3. Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (6-0)

4. Waseca (5-1)

5. Providence Academy (6-0)

6. Lake City (6-0)

7. Cannon Falls (5-1)

8. Litchfield (5-1)

9. Rockford (5-1)

10. Esko (6-0)

CLASS 3A

A new No. 1

For the second consecutive week the No. 1 team in Class 3A was defeated, leaving the door open for a new No. 1.

That new No. 1 would be Dassel-Cokato after last week’s top-ranked Litchfield fell to Watertown-Mayer 26-7 and Dassel-Cokato improved to 6-0 with a 49-14 win over Glencoe-Silver Lake.

Fairmont, with a 46-0 blanking of Worthington, jumps to the No. 2 spot. D-G-F stayed unbeaten with a 21-0 shutout over Hawley and Waseca beat southern rival New Ulm 38-7 to improve to 5-1.

Providence Academy continued their dominance with another lopsided win, this time 35-3 over Concordia Academy.

Lake City did the same by taking care of Zumbrota-Mazzeppa 40-7 to improve to 6-0.

The Bombers from Cannon Falls, who were No. 1 for four straight weeks before losing to Chatfield, are back on the winning track with a 54-12 trounc-

ing of LaCrescent-Hokah.

Rockford and Esko also won their games. Esko has not allowed a single point in their last three contests.

Scores in Class 3A top 10: Watertown-Mayer 26, No. 1 Litchfield 7

No. 2 Dassel-Cokato 49, Glencoe-Silver Lake 14

No. 3 Fairmont 46, Worthington 0

No. 4 D-G-F 21, Hawley 0

No. 5 Waseca 38, New Ulm 7

No. 6 Providence Academy 35, Concordia Academy 3

No. 7 Lake City 40, Zumbrota-Mazzeppa 7

No. 8 Cannon Falls 54, LaCrescent-Hokah 12

Hermantown 28, No. 9 Aitkin 6

No. 10 Rockford 27, Montevideo 14

RANKINGS

Class 4A

1. Becker (6-0)

2. Stewartville (6-0)

3. Hutchinson (5-1)

4. Willmar (5-1)

5. Mound Westonka (6-0)

6. Kasson-Mantorville (4-2)

7. North Branch (6-0)

8. Holy Angels (5-1)

9. Zimmerman (5-1)

10. Faribault (4-2)

CLASS 4A

Stewartville beats

Kasson-Mantorville

in battle of top 5 teams

Eli Klavetter threw three touchdown passes for Stewartville as they held off No. 4 ranked Kasson-Mantorville for a 28-14 win last Friday.

Stewartville remains undefeated at 6-0 while Kasson-Mantorville fell to

4-2. Kasson-Mantorville thus fell out of the top 5 to No. 6, but is still a team that will have to be reckoned with come section playoff time.

Meanwhile top-ranked Becker beat Monticello 31-7 to keep a clean record heading into Week 7.

Former No. 1 Hutchinson stays at No. 3 with a 31-0 win over Big Lake.

One team to watch is Mound Westonka, who is quietly putting together an impressive season. They have outscored opponents 235-81 thus far and have a solid hybrid offense that can beat teams on the ground and through the air.

North Branch remained unbeaten with a 48-20 win over Duluth Denfeld and Holy Angels, behind the running of Emmett Johnson, are now 5-1 after a 49-25 win over St. Louis Park.

Zimmerman debuts at No. 9 at 5-1 with a 41-14 win over Little Falls and Faribault also makes a debut at 4-2 after bouncing Winona 40-0. Faribault’s two losses were close ones to both Stewartville and Kasson-Mantorville.

Scores:

No. 1 Becker 31, Monticello 7

No. 2 Stewartville 28, No. 4 Kasson-Mantorville 21 No. 3 Hutchinson 31, Big Lake 0 No. 5 Mound Westonka 40, St. Paul Highland Park 7

No. 6 Willmar 24, No. 7 Rocori 8

No. 8 North Branch 48, Duluth Denfeld 20

No. 9 Holy Angels 49, St. Louis Park 25 No. 10 Zimmerman 41, Little Falls 14

FRIDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT

continued on page 10

Bennett Larson scored twice for Eden Prairie as the Eagles defeated No. 2 Shakopee 23-0. PHOTO BY GREG NAYMAN

ABOVE & BEYOND Dassel-Cokato’s Eli Gillman does it all

by BRYAN ZOLLMAN

Co-Publisher, Let’s Play Football

To understand how athletic and dominant Eli Gillman is on the football field, one has to look no further than Dassel-Cokato’s game against Holy Family on Oct. 1.

Gillman, a senior running back needed only five carries to rush for 149 yards and three touchdowns as the Chargers improved to 5-0.

This past Friday it took him just seven carries to gain 163 yards and two touchdown runs of 57 and 77 yards.

He is closing in on 1,000 yards and has 16 touchdowns in just six games. And there is still plenty of football yet to be played.

Gillman, a 5-11 200-pound force with the football, was rated the top athlete in Minnesota by Prep Red Zone. His athletic endeavors have earned him a scholarship to play FBS Division I football at Montana next season.

“Eli is a very smart and hard-nosed football player,” said Chargers head coach Ryan Weinandt. “He can run hard in short yardage, he can cut on a dime, has a great stiff arm, can run through tackles, and has breakaway speed. He really can do it all.”

Gillman was adopted as a baby in Florida by Brian and Dawn Gillman, who have always resided in Dassel. The Gillman’s have two older daughters of their own and three adopted children. Eli is the oldest adopted child — his brother Monte is a sophomore running back on the team, and they have a younger sister named Molly.

Brian and Dawn Gillman were both three-sport athletes in high school and passed down their love of sports to their kids.

Eli remembers when he fell in love with football.

“I think I was around nine years old when I started playing flag football,” he

said. “I fell in love with it right away.”

Gillman loves everything about the sport.

“I just love the boys being together,” he said. “And I love the hitting. I’ve loved the contact ever since we were able to play tackle.”

Gillman dedicated himself to athletics from the start by spending a lot of time in the weight room. While a lot of athletes dread going to the weight room, Gillman looks forward to it.

“I have always enjoyed lifting,” he said. “It’s never something I don’t want to do. And now it’s pretty much a habit.”

Gillman can squat 475 pounds and bench press 300. But his strength and stature certainly do not slow him down. He runs a 4.48 40-yard dash. His strength, speed and skill have earned him a chance to play at the highest level in college football.

“He is a special athlete,” said Weinandt. “Not only is he great at running the football, he is also an outstanding wide

receiver and played quarterback for us last year.”

Defensively, Gillman has played defensive tackle, outside linebacker, cornerback and safety. When you are as athletic as Gillman, it doesn’t matter where you put him...he is going to excel and will likely be the best player on the field at any position.

“We can literally play him at any position on offense and defense,” said Weinandt.

Gillman said playing different positions has helped him understand the game better because he knows what other positions are trying to do when he has the ball as a runner.

“You understand what the defense is doing from other perspectives,” he said. “Once you go back to your main position you understand what everyone on the field is doing.”

Of course, there is more to football than being big, strong and fast. Because football is the ultimate team sport, it is

never about just one player, and nobody knows that better than Gillman.

“Eli doesn’t let his athletic accomplishments get to his head,” said Weinandt. “He is very humble. In the hallways you will see him interacting with students of all different backgrounds and interests. Whether you are a starter on the football team, an elementary student, or someone he has never met, he is always genuine with everyone. He treats everyone equally and with respect. He is very respected by his peers, coaches, school and community.”

Despite his athletic prowess, being from a small town in Minnesota didn’t exactly have Division I football coaches blowing up his cell phone. The recruiting process started slow.

“I had some buddies getting offers and I had nothing,” Gillman said. “I was confused. And then a few months later I got a call from Michigan. The next day I got another call. It took a while, but then it started to take off.”

He took a recruiting visit to Montana, where he has extended family. Although he had offers from other Division I schools, Montana “just felt right.”

“I just love the place in general,” he said. “The facilities, the stadium, the coaches...I liked other places too, but this just felt right to me.”

He plans to study architecture, and hopes to make an impact right away as a freshman. But if not, it won’t bother him. Just like experiencing the recruiting process, jumping from small town Minnesota football to Division I may require some patience.

Long term, Gillman said he would love to play in the NFL. If not, he wants to earn a degree and start a career.

Short term, he has other goals. After a 6-0 start, he is focused on getting back to the Prep Bowl, where two years ago the Chargers lost in the finals in heart-

continued on page 11

Prep Player Spotlight: Eli Gillman, Dassel-Cokato

Eli Gillman possesses size, speed and skill, a lethal combination for opponents who have been unable to stop him. To date he has 16 touchdowns in six games and has catapulted the Chargers to the No. 1 ranking in Class 4A.

Eli Gillman, Dassel-Cokato’s electrifying back with a combination of power and speed reachs the end zone during competition this season. he has found the end zone 16 times so far, but most important to Gillman and his fellow Chargers is that they don’t just return tot he Prep Bowl, but win it this time. PHOTO SUBMITTED

FRIDAY NIGHT SPOTLIGHT continued from page 8

RANKINGS

Class 5A

1. Mankato West (6-0)

2. Andover (6-0)

3. St. Thomas Academy (6-0)

4. Chaska (6-0)

5. Sauk Rapids-Rice (6-0)

6. Rogers (5-1)

7. Moorhead (5-1)

8. Rochester Mayo (5-1)

9. Elk River (4-2)

10. Robbinsdale Armstrong (5-1)

CLASS 5A

Elk River and Moorhead have epic battle

There were some doozies in Week 6, but perhaps none more doozier than the Elk River/Moorhead game.

Elk River came out on top 50-46, but not after a late charge from the Spuds, who scored twice in the final five minutes to make a game of it.

A total of 33 points were scored in the fourth quarter alone.

The teams were deadlocked 14-14 after the first quarter as both offenses were clicking and both defenses struggled to make a stand.

It was 21-21 at the half when Elk River began to pull away in the second half.

They had two 63-yard runs, one by senior Dylan Rogers, who ended up with 222 yards and four touchdowns on the night. And another by junior Cade Osterman, who notched his fifth TD on the season and ran for 152 yards.

Moorhead QB Gavin Quade tried to keep them in the game late when he connected on a pair of scores in the waning minutes to make it 50-46, but the Spuds simply ran out of time to suffer their first loss of the 2021 campaign.

The Spuds dropped to No. 7 in the rankings, where Mankato West securely holds the top spot followed by Andover, STA, Chaska and Sauk Rapids-Rice, all who remain undefeated through the first six weeks of play.

Rogers and Rochester Mayo both put up convincing wins and Robbinsdale Armstrong sneaks in at No. 10 with a 5-1 mark after beating No. 8 Spring Lake Park 35-7.

Scores No. 1 Mankato West 76, Austin 0

No. 2 Andover 49, Coon Rapids 13

No. 3 St. Thomas Academy 18, Mahtomedi 13

No. 10 Elk River 50, No. 4 Moorhead 46

No. 5 Chaska 24, Orono 3

No. 6 Sauk Rapids-Rice 35, St. Francis 7

No. 7 Rogers 31,Brainerd 7

Robbinsdale Armstrong 35, No. 8 Spring lake Park 7

No. 9 Rochester Mayo 45, New Prague 0

RANKINGS

Class 6A

1. Lakeville South (6-0)

2. Eden Prairie (5-1)

3. Stillwater (6-0)

4. Centennial (4-2)

5. Maple Grove (5-1)

6. Minnetonka (5-1)

7. Shakopee (5-1)

CLASS 6A

Eden Prairie shuts out Shakopee

The Eagles soared past No. 2 Shakopee Friday 23-0, jumping to No. 2 in the rankings behind Lakeville South, their only loss of the season.

South, meanwhile, de-

feated Prior Lake 25-13 to remain one of just two teams in 6A to be undefeated.

The other squad is Stillwater, who made easy work of Forest Lake 37-6 to improve to 6-0.

Centennial continues to prove themselves with a 26-14 win over Blaine and Minnetonka and Woodbury

also stayed the course with victories. The big match up was between No. 7 Maple Grove and No. 3 Wayzata, but it was the Crimson who came out on top with a 21-3 win.

GILLMAN continued from page 10_________________________________________________

breaking fashion 28-27 to Pierz. In that game Gillman rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown and also caught a 37-yard touchdown pass.

“Our goal is to get back to that state championship,” he said. “We’re not trying to get second place again.”

That loss still stings, and Gillman’s competitive nature hasn’t allowed him to forget about it.

“Last year I wanted it bad since we had lost the season before, but the state tournament got taken away from us,” he said. “This is the final chance I have on winning that championship and making history for the Chargers and the whole Dassel-Cokato community. Everyone wants it bad, so we are going to make it happen this year.”

In the meantime, Gillman is going

to ride out his senior season, enjoying the limited number of Friday nights under the lights he has left.

“High school football is amazing,” he said. “I just love the atmosphere. On Friday nights the whole town shows up. The student section is screaming, all the

fans are going crazy. I just love the feeling of the whole community cheering us on.”

This year they have plenty to cheer about, and Eli Gillman is a big reason why.

No. 4 Eden Prairie defeated No. 2 Shakopee Friday 23-0. Their only loss has been to top-ranked Lakeville South as the Class 6A field starts to take shape with just two weeks to go in the regular season. PHOTO BY CHRISTINE WISCH

“I just love the atmosphere. Friday nights the whole town shows up. The student section is screaming, all the fans are going crazy. I just love the feeling of the whole community cheering us on.”

- Eli Gillman on what he loves about high school football

Eli Gillman breaks one of many big runs he has had this season so far. The senior all-purpose back is putting together a phenomenal campaign as the Chargers are ranked No. 1 in Let’s Play Football’s poll. PHOTO SUBMITTED

So, you want to play D1 Football? Part II

by PAUL REPPENHAGEN

This article is second in a series by Paul Reppenhagen, father of current Texas Christian University player Ben Reppenhagen. His articles will discuss the recruiting process for those wanting to play Division I football.

In my previous article I talked about how you go from high school standout to D1 commit or walk-on. I outlined some of the key questions you need to ask yourself like: “Do I really want to play D1 football?”, “Do I have the necessary combination of size and skill?”, “What am I really willing to give up to play D1?”. Furthermore, I offered some data to highlight where MN stands in terms of generating D1 FBS players. In this article I get into more specifics about the recruiting process – things to do, things to avoid, tips to consider.

First, if you want to play D1 ball, you’ll need to look at the situation from a college coach or recruiting coordinator perspective. You’re one of thousands of players trying to get their attention and land a spot. College football recruiters are extremely busy and have a lot of responsibilities and stress. Yes, they are certainly motivated to find talent but if you are waiting on them to find you, you may be waiting a long time. They don’t have time to sort, sift through, and reach out to all prospective players. Think about it; if one hundred recruits each send a 2-minute highlight reel, that’s almost 3 and half hours of a coach’s time just to watch all of them once. Trust me, they don’t have that kind of time. Here are a few things you can do to increase your odds of getting their attention

1. Network to find someone that has some connection to the university. Coaches are more likely to look at you if you are introduced to them via an alumni, former player, professor, friend or acquaintance of the coach, AD, or administrator. You’ll be surprised at what a small world it is when you start asking around if anyone knows someone at so and so school. Get comfortable asking people you may not know to send a note on your behalf. Believe me, it works! For example, Wake Forest was on the short list of schools my son was interested in attending - Great academics, smaller student body, Power 5 sports. But Wake Forest doesn’t recruit in MN. They have plenty of access to talent down in the SE part of the country. Through networking, we found a

work colleague of a friend that was good friends with the Wake Forest AD. We were able to parlay that connection into and introduction, more correspondence, a visit, and an offer. Don’t discount the power of your network.

2. Plan on reaching out to multiple coaches and coordinators. Head coaches, OCs, and DCs, aren’t necessarily the only ones choosing players. Often, position coaches are the ones making player recommendations. Also, don’t be shy about communicating with multiple different position coaches. You may be a LB in high school but could play TE in college and the TE position coach is short on recruits. You want to ensure you have explored all your options. If you are too tied into playing one specific position, you’ll limit your opportunities.

3. Make your correspondence personal. Don’t send form letters or emails. Coaches see right through those and will dump your note right in the trash. Find out where the coaches played ball, where they are from, where they went to school. Write something that demonstrates you took some time to research them and the school. Yes, that takes more time but quality matters here. A coach is more likely to respond to someone they see has put real time and effort

into their letters and emails. Also, don’t hesitate to send letters via snail mail or, better yet, Fed Ex. Trust me, everyone likes to open personal mail addressed to them. In a world overloaded with email, texts, and IMs, an old-fashioned letter/ package can break through the clutter and get a coach to read your stuff.

4. Follow up. Most kids send an email and never follow up on it. That simply will not work. If you’re going to take the time to personalize a note or letter, do yourself a favor and follow up on it. Keep following up on it until you get a response. Try following up by telling the coach you watched their game and was impressed with the team’s toughness. Or, simply congratulate them on a win. If you don’t follow up, coaches think you aren’t serious. Demonstrate your commitment by following up with notes, phone calls, texts, whatever it takes. Eventually, they will either answer you or just tell you they aren’t interested. Be persistent with it.

Secondly, keep all your options open. Believe me, the coaches are certainly going to do that. Don’t think a verbal offer or interest as anything more than it is – words. And let’s face it, talk is cheap. There are lots of very trustworthy and ethical coaches out there. But unfor-

tunately, there are some that just take advantage of kids/parent’s naivety. Coaches pull offers at the last minute, go back on their words, and leave kids in the lurch all the time. Don’t stop pushing until you have something in writing or are 100% confident you’ve locked down a spot on the roster. My son had an offer from UPenn. We met with their head coach and he said he would be calling in a few weeks for our final commitment. He gave us his word. When we hadn’t heard from him, we followed up. When we finally were in touch with the coach, my son told him of his commitment only to find out they gave the spot to someone else. Very disheartening.

Thirdly, visit the schools that are showing interest. You can’t tell what a school or facility is like simply by the pictures on line. Ask to visit the stadium, the locker rooms, the weight room, the dorms. You’ll be spending a ton of time at the athletic facilities and you want to know what they are like. Find out what they feed you, what amenities are available to you, what the training room is like. Ask to meet with the coaches. You can tell a lot about a coach’s interest in you when you are sitting in front of them. Ask direct and pointed questions like, Do you see me starting here?, What concerns do you have about me as a player?, Do you have any intention of pulling my offer (even if you are a walkon)?, What guarantees do I have I’m on the roster, etc. You might be uncomfortable asking those type questions but do it anyway. Believe me, the coach will appreciate them if he is serious about you.

In summary, take your recruiting seriously. Be very intentional with how you go about it. Playing D1 ball is a big commitment and it takes real effort to get to that level. Doing the things mentioned above will most certainly improve your odds of being noticed. Let’s face it, those with superhuman talent don’t have to work all that hard to get noticed. If you are reading this article, chances are you are not one of those freak athletes. You’re going to have to work for it. But, when you get that offer, when you get a coach interested in you, when you know you’ve got a spot, you’ll forget all about the work it took to get there. It’ll be a happy day for sure!

In my next article, I’ll touch on what happens after you have committed and have a spot on the roster.

Wanting to play major college football is no easy task. Paul Reppenhagen offers tips for players looking to make the big leap to Division I college football. Photo by JOSH MUNTIFERING

Ring of Honor

Kevin Williams takes his rightful place in Vikings lore

by CRAIG PETERS

WILLIAMS 93 was unveiled Sunday on the upper concourse façade that oversees U.S. Bank Stadium’s playing surface.

It was done to celebrate the Vikings Ring of Honor induction of Kevin Williams, affirming his place in franchise lore.

In some ways, Williams’ influence on the Vikings locker room has never stopped.

Everson Griffen (four seasons) and Harrison Smith (two) teamed with the six-time Pro Bowler and five-time FirstTeam All-Pro as they began their careers in Purple.

Griffen, now in his 12th season and 11th with Minnesota, was a backup and a special teamer on his way to becoming an outstanding and oft-outspoken Pro Bowler.

“Kevin wasn’t a really big talker, but on the field he talked a lot,” Griffen said. “He helped me with my calls, he helped me get lined up, and I feel like that’s why I’m still playing right now. His numbers were out of this world, and he came to play each and every week. ‘Ticket’ was a monster. He taught me so much, and I was blessed to play with him and blessed to be his teammate.”

All Smith has to see to think of Williams is a football he caught in the Metrodome in his rookie 2012 season. Smith returned his first NFL interception 31 yards, recording a pick-six against Arizona.

“It was a shorter one, but I remember it because when I got in the end zone, I didn’t know what was going on, I was so excited,” Smith said. “Kevin Williams picked up the ball and brought it back to me. So I still have the ball – he made sure to go get it for me.”

Twenty-seven more interceptions, including three more returned for touchdowns, have followed for Smith.

By the time Smith arrived as another first-round pick, Williams had already recorded four interceptions — as a defensive tackle! — and returned two for touchdowns. The 6-foot-5 Williams, who played at 315 pounds, had also scooped and scored twice on fumbles.

His 60 sacks with Minnesota are tied with Brian Robison for the ninth-most in team history (Danielle Hunter enters today’s game with 58.5).

Splash plays can happen, but Williams’ key to success is that he brought it every snap of all 171 regular-season games he played for Minnesota in 11 seasons (from 2003-13). He took a similar approach for Seattle in 2014 and New Orleans in 2015.

His 685 career tackles are the fifth-most among Minnesota defensive linemen, and his 75.5 tackles for loss rank eighth among all Vikings players, according to team records.

“To me, Kevin was such a silent assassin,” former Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress told Vikings.com this summer.

“Pat Williams made him laugh like nobody’s business. It was always fun to see Pat get a laugh out of Kevin, because he was so stoic.”

Childress said Kevin’s role at the 3-technique was “the engine that ran that defense we were running then” and compared what the Arkansas native did here with the success that Warren Sapp delivered for Tampa Bay.

“Nobody played (3-technique) better than Kevin at that time. He was hard to block inside, got a lot of sacks inside, and obviously was a great run stopper,” Childress added.

Ah yes, “Ticket” as he’s most casually referred to — former Vikings defensive lineman

Billy Lyon originated the nickname “Little Ticket” in 2003 since Kevin Garnett was already known in town as “Big Ticket” — formed half of “The Williams Wall” from 2005-10. The “Little” was dropped after Garnett’s departure from the Timberwolves.

Kevin and Pat were critical to the Vikings leading the NFL in rushing yards allowed for three consecutive seasons (2006-08) and making back-to-back trips to the playoffs in 2008-09.

Center John Sullivan (2008-15) matched up more frequently against Pat, the nose tackle, but was impressed by both players.

“Even with going into the Ring of Honor, I still feel like Kevin’s an underappreciated guy, for the things he did on the field and the stats that he put up,” Sullivan

said. “I was really happy when I saw that he was being honored that way by the Vikings organization. He was a guy that you felt like might slip through the cracks because he was not really loud or boisterous. He was never a guy that bragged about all that he was doing. He was more mellow and mild-mannered, but a heck of a player and is well-deserving of that honor.”

The thread sewn by the Purple People Eaters stitched its way through Vikings lore, making stalwart defensive line play the fabric of the best Minnesota teams from the team’s first decade. It extended from the 1960s and ’70s through the ’80s, ’90s and Williams’ arrival as a first-round pick in 2003.

Pro Football Hall of Fame guard Steve Hutchinson knows that thread. The member of the Class of 2020 has spoken numerous times about how practicing against John Randle (2001-03 as a member of the Seahawks) and Williams (from 2006-11) helped lead to his enshrinement.

Williams said he realized the excellence of Vikings who played before him, particularly once he processed opting for 93 out of a list that Equipment Manager Dennis Ryan provided of available Vikings jersey numbers.

He hadn’t been able to see many Vikings games during his youth in Arkansas.

“Then you get here and find out, ‘Oh my goodness, Johnny wore 93.’ And I never said it to anybody, but I’m like, ‘I can’t be a bust here. I have to get out there and get after it and perform.’ That kind of battle I fought with myself to be successful, and here we are,” Williams said in June.

Vikings Owner/Chairman Zygi Wilf and Owner/President Mark Wilf, whose family purchased the Vikings in 2005 before Williams’ third season, told him earlier that day that he would be joining Randle among the Vikings Ring of Honor inductees.

“It is surreal. … I didn’t play for the accolades or the glory. I just wanted to win and do my job and represent this organization as best as I could,” Williams said. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’m super excited about this honor. It just shows you that you did things the right way and people recognize it, and I appreciate

it.”

“It is surreal. … I didn’t play for the accolades or the glory. I just wanted to win and do my job and represent this organization as best as I could.”

- Kevin Williams

Kevin Williams’ influence as a Vikings great translated from the field to the locker room as well as he became a cherished leader for the purple during his tenure as a Viking great.

Kevin Williams addresses the Vikings faithful after being inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor.

The lasting importance of football

by MIKE SONNTAG

My involvement in football spans 40 years and has run the gamut first as a player from the youth level through college, a youth and high school coach, finally to a football parent. A few years back when we first began discussions to start Let’s Play Football, the main objective was to create a statewide following by publishing positive stories about the sport of football on a print and digital platform. Now three years in to this endeavor, while the objective remains the same, I find myself reflecting on my passion for football and what changes I have seen which only reinforce why children of today need to be playing football — not only to create life-long memories but for the betterment of society.

Looking back at my times as a player many memories are still fresh in my mind. I remember disliking football practice, but learned to understand the importance of preparation. I was nervous before every game, even if it was a team we were expecting to beat. The Friday night lights of high school were really special. In Minnesota your first few games are played in late August and early September with the weather still borderline hot. Usually around homecoming time by the end of the game there was enough of a chill you could see your breath in the air.

I remember waking up sore the morning after a game, but I appreciated it because I knew I had been in battle with my best buddies the night before.

Of course, there was more than just the game. There were the bus rides, the conditioning, team dinners, the national anthems, homecoming, the list can go

on and on. When you are in those moments you think they will last forever, and now almost three decades removed from my playing days at times wish they did last forever.

Football coaches of my era and earlier were often hard-nosed and intimidating individuals who were hard on players, commanded respect and preached discipline. It would be disingenuous to assert that everyone who played high school or college football leave with favorable opinions of their coaches, but those were different times. I was fortunate enough to have youth, high school, and college coaches that left positive lasting impressions on my life. They all in their own way helped mold me into the man that I am today. I still stay in contact with my high school coach, in fact it was his phone call to me last week that prompted me to want to write this article.

In this issue you’ll read about the town of Cleveland, Minnesota having named their high school football field after longtime coach Dave Krenik. The stories his former players come back and tell of their time playing for coach Krenik can be echoed and appreciated by many former high school players about their former coaches as well. The legacy left on former players and communities by many coaches can never be overstated.

Yet, times have changed. The foot-

ball coaches of today are no longer able to coach with an iron fist. Now many use acronyms and slogans like F.A.M.I.L.Y (Forget About Me I Love You), T.E.A.M (Together Everyone Achieves More), to Row the Boat. I see these teachings as having just as much of a positive impact on the kids of today.

Today, football might be the only sport that isn’t offered 12 months a year through clubs outside of the normal association or high school fall season. Sports like hockey and baseball (and more recently lacrosse) have offered a fall option for players, and as recently as 10 years ago coaches of those extended seasons understood the “in season” or varsity sport was priority. That has clearly changed as these clubs, and the expense that come with it, have put pressure on parents and athletes to decide which is more important.

If a player has a football game on Friday night and a double header baseball game the next morning the club coach will sit him if he misses the first game to watch film with his football team. Why? I don’t see a solution to that problem anytime in the near future, and the athlete is the only loser in that situation.

Many schools have celebrated homecoming games in the past few weeks. I attended mine and spoke to many of my former high school and college teammates at those games. I also

recently bumped into a former teammate from our fourth and fifth grade championship football teams from our days in the White Bear Lake youth football association. I credit football for giving me lifelong friendships that have stood for decades, and the story telling gets better and better over time. That being said one thing really struck me over many of those conversations and stories. Many of my former teammates who clearly still share a passion for football did not let their own sons play the sport. It makes me wonder what external pressure kept them from allowing their children to create the same memories?

A friend of mine with greater football experiences than I once told me “Football will save the world”. I am not sure I totally understood where he was coming from, but it is starting to make clear sense now. Football is still and might forever be the only sport which requires coordinated discipline from each player at the same time.

Football is unique. Games can’t be played multiple times a week. Players and coaches must dedicate five times as much time to practice than games. Reserve players are as valuable to the success of a team as the starting players. Playing football teaches life lessons of how to win, lose, lead, follow, overcome adversities, and create life-long bonds. If you are a former football player who looks back fondly on your time playing and has passion for the game still today with zero regrets, why wouldn’t you give your son that same opportunity?

Let’s Play Football is here as a reminder for past players, and a vehicle to promote football for generations to come. Football has never been safer to play. Football is a fraternity. Football is a brotherhood. Football is Life.

Co-Publisher, Let’s Play Football

“If you are a former football player who looks back fondly on your time playing and has passion for the game still today with zero regrets, why wouldn’t you give your son that same opportunity?”

Bemidji State rolls past Concordia-St. Paul

ST. PAUL, Minn. (Sea Foam Stadium) -- A cohesive effort helped the Bemidji State University football team to a 42-14 win over Concordia University-St. Paul on Saturday at Sea Foam Stadium in St. Paul, Minn. The Beavers, now 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North Division, were led by 506 offensive yards and three takeaways from the “Gang Green” defense.

Sophomore quarterback Brandon Alt put together his fourth 300-yard passing game of the season, totaling 354 yards with three touchdowns and a 58-completion percent. All three of Alt’s touchdowns came from at least 50 yards out, including two 75-yard catch and run scores by senior wide receiver Malik Williams.

Junior wide receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby led the receivers with four receptions for 63 yards while Williams brought in three receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Brendan Beaulieu caught three passes for 70 yards and a 51-yard touchdown.

Bemidji State’s defense limited Concordia-St. Paul to 230 offensive yards and recorded three takeaways.

Freshman Colton Herman brought in BSU’s first takeaway of the game on an interception, while junior defensive back Jake West returned an interception 96 yards for a touchdown. Senior linebacker Gabe Ames led the defensive unit with seven tackles, 3.0 tackles for a loss of 17 yards and one fumble recovery.

The Beavers forced the Golden Bears to punt on their first drive of the game, which included a third-down sack

by junior edge rusher Zollie Kaplan. BSU gave the ball back on its second offensive play, an interception to set up CSP at the BSU 40-yardline. Concordia-St. Paul scored the first touchdown of the game on a double pass for 40 yards.

Alt threw the first of his three touchdowns midway through the first quarter, finding Beaulieu in the middle of the field on his way to a 51-yard catch and run score. The throw completed a sixplay, 87-yard drive to tie the game, 7-7. Bemidji State continued to click offensively with a 74-yard drive early in the second quarter, capped by the first of two rushing touchdowns by freshman quarterback Sam McGath.

Bemidji State held Concordia-St. Paul without a first down in the second quarter, helping extend its lead before halftime. The CSP offense gave away

a fumble late in the first half to set up McGath’s second rushing touchdown, this time from one yard out to put BSU ahead, 21-7.

Just two plays out of halftime, Alt and Williams made their first of two 75yard touchdown connections. Williams caught the ball near mid-field before spinning away from a tackle and giving BSU a 28-7 lead. After CSP brought the game back to within two scores on a 71yard rushing touchdown, Alt and Williams connected again from 75 yards. Williams was set up for a screen near the sideline, back-stepped to avoid a defender and ran up the sideline for a 3514 lead.

Bemidji State forced Concordia-St. Paul to a turnover on downs and a punt before West solidified the BSU win with his interception returned for a touchdown. The pick-six gave the Beavers

a 42-14 lead and went down as the third-longest interception return in BSU history.

The BSU rushing attack combined for 152 yards on the ground, led by sophomore running back Sage Booker with 88 yards on 22 carries. Sophomore back Makaio Harn tallied 64 rushing yards on 13 attempts with a long of 24 yards.

Senior defensive back Hameed Oyedele followed Ames in tackles with six, with 0.5 tackle for a loss. Kaplan and fellow edge rusher Colbey Wadsworth tallied five tackles, including 2.0 sacks for a loss of 22 yards for Kaplan. Bemidji State returns home Saturday, Oct. 16 to renew the Battle Axe Rivalry against Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Sage Booker (Soph./DeLaSalle) Malik Williams (SR./Lakeworth, FLA) Brandon Alt (Soph./Cottage Grove)

Q: Kirk Cousins recently tossed his 100th touchdown pass in a Vikings uniform. What other Vikings QBs have hit the century mark in TD tosses?

A: Well, we all know Tarkenton is No. 1, and most might have guessed Tommy Kramer at No. 2. But is it Brad Johnson, Wade Wilson, Warren Moon or Daunte Culpepper at No. 3? Drum roll...it’s Culpepper, who had 135 TD throws in 81 games. Tarkenton had 239 in 177 games and TK had 159 in 128 games.

Q: Two quarterbacks in Vikings history have a QB rating over 100. Who are they, and who is No. 1 and who is No. 2?

A: Hint-hint...they both wore No. 8. Kirk Cousins is the top rated QB in franchise history with a rating of 103.8. The other... Sam Bradford, who during his short stint under center notched a QB rating of 101.1.

For good measure, Tarkenton comes in at 80.1, TK at 72.9 and Culpepper at 91.5. See adjoining chart for career QBs and their ratings. And remember, the game has changed dramatically to a pass-first scheme the past 20 years. And maybe Chris Kluwe should have been a QB.

Q: Which Vikings QB, who has started at least 12 games, has the highest winning percentage in franchise history?

A: If we gave you the initials G.F, would you get it?

It’s not Case Keenum, who went 12-4, or Brett Favre, who went 18-13, or Fran The Man who went 70-32.

It was none other than the man, myth, legend himself, Gus Frerotte. In 13 games Frerotte went 10-3 for a winning percentage of .769. The second winningest QB...it’s a tie between Keenum and Jeff Goerge who both went 9-3.

Rosemount Youth Football honors players with Pat Tillman Award

The Rosemount High School football program created The Pat Tillman Award in 2005 to honor the player that most exemplifies the willingness to serve, is unselfish, is humble, helps others, does not seek recognition and leads by example.

This award, voted on by teammates, represents the the player that the team feels meets this criteria.

Former NFL football Player Pat Tillman demonstrated these characteristics in how he lived his life before being tragically killed in Afghanistan. He was known for being a leader by example and going out of his way to help others. People that described him said he was always very humble about any accomplishments that came his way.

In 2015 the youth program awarded the Pat tillman Award to players who exemplified the above qualities.

Pat Tillman Award winners

Rosemount Youth Football

Carsten Van Proosdy

Hunter Fossum

Sawyer Ganser

Sawyer Felten

Shane Hall

Colton Broback

Joseph Anderson

Brooks Hall

Daly Wente

Bennett Greenson

Michael Daniels

Finn Macken

Max Meger

Caleb Lindsay

Ben Jezusko

Jacob Ayoub

Warren Robertson

Brady Struble

One team campaign shows unity across all levels of Minnesota

As the 2021 football season prepares to kick off for Minnesota high schools, colleges and the NFL, the difficulties of the 2020 season makes players, coaches, parents and fans appreciative of a normal return to the field. As a way to commemorate how far we have come as a community, the Minnesota State High School League, Minnesota Football Coaches Association and the Minnesota Vikings collaborated to create a helmet sticker that can be worn by football players, at every level, throughout the state.

The logo features an outline of the state of Minnesota, the “One Team” slogan and the laces of a football that connect the two. Decals have been sent to every high school team in the state as well as all college teams, a total of 366 high schools and 32 collegiate teams. The Vikings will wear the helmet decals in the August 14 preseason game vs. Denver at U.S. Bank Stadium. Lapel pins for coaches and staff have also been distributed.

Teams are invited to share photos and other content displaying their involvement in the One Team program throughout the year by using the hashtag #OneTeamMN on all personal and team social media platforms. Posts using this hashtag will be randomly selected throughout the season to receive a contribution to the school’s football program.